The Global Ramifications of the Arctic Melt Are Just Beginning

Alaska Oil (2001): Examining the contentious issue of whether or not to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

The area in question is part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which oil companies believe contain significant oil reserves.

It is also the area where the caribou deer come to calve -- the lifeblood of the native community. They, understandably, are hostile to the proposals: "People who are trying to live a subsistence lifestyle are now very frustrated because the impacts of development have come very close to home," says Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, deputy village mayor. But the US government sees it differently. Rather than reduce consumption, Bush wants to increase America's oil reserves, and he denies that the coastal plain will suffer damage. Surprisingly, many Alaskans themselves approve of the proposals; 85% of their state revenue is from oil, which helps finance government services. Shots of the Alaskan coastline provide a stunning backdrop to this bitter and emotional debate.

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Arctic Cold War (2007): The Arctic's melting ice has opened up the area's vast natural resources to the Arctic powers, which could result in tensions leading to war

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According to a new report, global warming is likely to trigger a dangerous contest between Russia and the West for the Arctic's vast mineral resources.

As the Arctic warms up; "major corporations are waking up to the fact there is going to be tremendous economic opportunity", explains Prof Huebert. Canada, Russia, Denmark and Norway all have claims to the Arctic seabed, where vast mineral reserves are thought to lie. There's concern that this scramble for resources could spiral out of control. "The worst case scenario is one of a regional area where hostilities are the norm and co-operation the exception", warns Huebert.

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Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about.